ConBaT+ an ECML project Empowering Language Professionals Conference Graz, 29 September – 1 October 2011

Adding a plurilingual dimension to Content-Based Teaching Mercè Bernaus Anu Parts How does a CLIL teacher reconcile content and culture?

The aims of ConBaT + –To raise plurilingual, pluricultural and intercultural COMPETENCE among primary and secondary school teachers and their pupils. –To empower teachers to create QUALITY cross- curricular materials in English, French, and Spanish, as an L2, for primary and secondary school learners. –To introduce the LANGUAGES and CULTURES present in the classroom into a number of subjects. –To motivate teachers to IMPACT on a reform of language learning and teaching. –To strengthen professional NETWORKS by providing several international and national meetings.

ConBaT + An approach to the approach

What ConBaT + is not

What it is not ConBaT + is not just Content -Based Teaching –because it is not just a question of content- based teaching/learning using a foreign language

What it is not ConBaT + is not just plurilingualism –Because it is not only related to language awareness or attitudes but to language learning not only related to “foreign” languages but to the learners’ mother tongue or community languages

What it is not ConBaT + is not ideologically neutral

What ConBaT + is

Ideologically, ConBaT+ is open-minded, respectful and tolerant, socially concerned, intercultural, empathetic to the other, a choice to engage …

What ConBaT+ is ConBaT+ is related to language learners and language users.

What ConBaT+ is ConBaT+ is related to language learners and language users –To satisfy their “basic” needs learning the host country’s main language for school or work –To satisfy their perceived social expectations learning a “prestigious” foreign language –To satisfy their high-level communicative demands learning the school language as a first language.

What ConBaT+ is It is something for schools to think about –Networking & team cooperation is required. A whole-school linguistic project could be a good start in the implementation of ConBaT+.

What ConBaT+ is ConBaT+ is context-dependent –What and how to teach depends on Languages studied, Levels of proficiency, Subject contents, School organization, Participation of families and communities Availability of intercultural mediators/interpreters …

What ConBaT+ is ConBaT+ is evolutive

What ConBaT+ is It is pluricultural –It aims at helping learners develop their multiple identities Linked to as many languages they may speak or want or need to speak.

What ConBaT + is It is community-focused –It views the school as a means to transform society. –It invokes the community to assist the school in (language) education.

In conclusion,

Plurilingualism & Content- based Teaching are the challenges of 21st Century Language Teaching

What is science? Stereotypes Scientific vocabulary Scientific expeditions Science activity Topic: Science and scientists

Stereotypes

Scientific language Scientific language denotes language used to give an exact description of the subject according to its scientific meaning. For example: hand – forelimb; run – move quickly on the back limbs; water – substance, which consists of H and O

Give the explanation in scientific language Eye Light “Translate” the nursery rhyme into scientific language A tree toad loved a she-toad Who lived up in a tree. He was a two-toed tree toad But a three-toed toad was she.

Scientific expeditions Charles Darwin and his expedition on “Beagle” online.org.uk/graphics/illustrations.html

Analyse the following text and try to find words matching the definitions below. 1. A type of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere which falls in the form of crystalline water: SNOW 2. A non-corporeal being contrasted with one having material form: SPIRIT 3. A large landform that rises above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak: MOUNTAIN 4. An area with a high density of trees: FOREST

Discussion Was it difficult to work with different languages? Which task did you like best? If you could change the worksheet you would like to...